Liquid-measuring device



I Nov. LM1930. J, M MAYHLL ET AL 1,780,598

LI QUID MEASURING DEVICE Filed April 29. 1927 I N VEN TORS BY a HowardC. Morrliaon @1A/, m

AHORA/Ew.n

'- J'ohn M Mayhall I' liquider f f Patented Nov. 41,y 1930y Y jV"Ulxu'riso STATES] iig'atssnv LIQUIDMEASUMNG nevica Application meaApril 29,

f i Our invention relates to a device designedV especially' forthepurposeof determining the domage and ullage oft-ankcars, used in thetransportation of oils, gasoline, and similar Such a-car when lled atthe refinery at a given temperature,-will contain a stated num'- berofthousands o-figallons of fluid'content'. But whenlshippedto itsdestinatiomfthe bulk `thereof may showconsiderable variation, due to anyone or several causes. Lowertemperatures will lessen the volume, whilehigher j temperatures will 'have an opposite effect. The conditionsexisting at the place of shipment are comparedv with those at thedestination by the consignee, with due allowance forvariations of bulkdue to the differences in such conditions, and in this manner theconsignee ascertainsfthe quantity received by him. Both domagevr and`ullage may be attributed whollyto diiferenttemperatures.

Our invention is embodied in a simply constructed device which willaccurately indicatefvariationfrom the normal due to either factor. ,Itresides in a portable device which maybe easily insertedinto the tankthrough A the domeof the latter, and correctlyfindi'- cate the shrinkageor expansion of the liquid content ofthe tank. It consists ofan'attachment to the device set forth in our prior application ledOctober4,f1926, Serial No. 139,- 373, for liquid testing devices, suchattachment comprising a feeler'which is engageable with the inner wallvof the tank at the topy vertically arranged glass tube, into which thevliquid is permitted to rise ,upon opening a valve at the lower end, sothat the level of the liquid in theA tank will be shown in the tubeandthe extent of the variationabove or below normal shown upon a scaleassociated with the tube. ,y The measuringk device is adjustable toaccommodate its use to tanks of different capacities. V y A i Havingthus outlined the nature and purposes of the invention, we willnowdescribe the same particularly, and point out the novelty thereof in theappended claims.

thereof and at-thefoot ofthe dome, andk av 19,27. Serial N0. 187,518.l

Y Inthe accompanying drawing:

' Figure 1 is a verticallongitudinal section through the dome andcentral portion of the tank of a railway car, showing our invention inposition for use.

Fig., 2 is an enlarged'view showingthe device in side elevation.

vIn the drawing, thefnunieral 10. indicates the shell ofk a tank car'orother `container adapted to the transportation zor storage'of oil or itsderivatives, the said tank beingprovided with a dome 11 having an inletormanholev11. n .n l

The numeral 12 indicates astaif, preferably constituted vas a lightmetal tube, of suitable length to enablev it when inserted in the tankto rest upon thebottom thereof, and to extend upwardly to a point nearthe inlet to the dome. Afmetal tube 13 provided with graduated 4sightopenings 14 is supported at its'lower end in verticalparallelism'.withrthe staff 12 by means of a sliding or otherwiseadjustablel bracket 15 on the staff 12. Alifting rod 16, alsoemployedfto operate the valve in the manner hereinafter described, is.connected at its lower endto the bracket 15, and guided at its Vupperend in a bracket 17, attached to thestaif 12. `Alateral support 18 forthe upperend ofthe perforated tube 13,

and attached.thereto, embraces'the lifting rod 16. The lower end of therod 16 is threaded, and nuts. 19 are applied thereto at the under sideof thebracket'l," so that a longitudinal movement of thev rod 16 willmove Vthe bracket 15 and the `perforated tube linthe same direction. i

Arranged `'nside of the perforated tube 13 isglass tube20, properlypacked atl its lower end to prevent leakage. From the lower end oftheglass tube 20, leads a duct 21,' opening outwardly from the end ofthe bracket 15. The upper end of the tube 2O isopened to the atmosphere.The lower end ofthe krod 16 is Y enlarged and tapered as at 22,50 as towork in ka tapering opening formed vertically in the end ofthebracket15, the tapered and enlarged end22 being boredl transversely to formapassage which maybe aligned with theduct 21, through which the liquidmay flow into the glass tube 20. When the perforated tube 13 is moveddownwardly along the staff 12 by pressure exerted upon the rod 16, thebracket 15 is likewise moved. The perforated tube and its containedglass tube, as well as the bracket 15 in which is the valve controllinCrthe flow into the tube, may therefore be moved either up or down on thestaff 12, to adjust the measuring device to the desired altitude. y

A bracket 23, sliding on the starmi 12, is attached to the vperforatedtube 13 at a-point intermediate the ends of the latter, so as tomaintain a neutral or Zero position from which the graduations on theperforated tube lead in either direction. Pivoted to the bracket 23 isan arm 24, which is adapted to be folded into an inoperative positionparallel withl the rod 16, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, andto'be held in such positionV by a friction clamp 25 on the lateralsupport 18, when the device is not in use. The said arm 241 is adaptedto be turned into horizontal position, and brought into engagement withthe inside upper part ofthe shell 10 of the tank, by `a lifting movementon the rod 16. Vith the lower end of the staif 12 resting upon thebottom of the tank, and the arm 24 in engagement with the shell asdescribed, the Zero point of the scale is precisely in line with the.under side of the upper part of the shell at the highest point of thelatter.

In operation, the device has been passed through the manhole andpositioned as described. The valve in the bracket 15 will now be openedby turning the rod 16 through the radial lever or handle 26 aliiXed tothe upper end of the rod, and the liquid will flow through the saidvalve and into the glass tube 20, attaining thelevel of the liquid inthe tank, be it either above or below the Zero line. By a reversemovement of the handle 26, the valve will be closed, and the devicewithdrawn. The liquid in the glass tube 2O may be visualized through theopeningsin the protecting tube 13, and if standing above the zero point,will indicate the extent of the domage. If the liquid in the tube standsbelow the point, it willindicate the ullage or shrinkage. Uponascertaining these factors, the actual cubical contents of the tank maybe accurately determined, after due consideration by the consignee ofthe conditions which vmay cause variation in the volume of theliquidcontent of the car.

In the construction illustrated, the lower end of the tube 13 isthreaded upon the end of a bored stud 27 set into the bracket 15 andother end. But-the stud 27 may be formed as a projection upon thebracket. The

brackets 15 and 23 may be provided with spring-pressed friction devices29, to retard independent movement of the attachment.r

In practical use our invention has proven 'L' verypadvantageous infacilitating the pertank 10 to be filled to capacity, and permits rexpansion of the volume of liquid therein under a rise of temperature.The liquid column rising in the dome, is termed domage, in the industryin connection with which the `present invention isemployed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent of therUnited States, is l: Y

1. A liquid measuring instrument for tank cars, comprising a staff, adevice thereon for fk indicating either theV domage or ullage of thetank, andmeans slidably connected to said staff for positioning the saiddevice-at a zero line after its insertion in the tank.

2. A liquid measuring-instrument for tank i;

cars, comprising a staff, adevice thereonfor indicating either thedomage or ullage of the tank, means fixed torsaid device and slidable onsaid stall for adjusting the said device at a Zero lineafter'insertionin the tank, and a valve for controlling the flow of liquid into theindicating device. j l

3. A measuring instrument for tank cars, comprising a staff, a devicemovable thereon for indicating either the domage or ullage of the tank,the said device having means engageable with the shell of thetank toposition the device at a zero line after insertion in thetank, and avalve forcontrolling the 4How of liquid into the indicating device.

4. Ameasuring instrument for tank cars, comprising a staff, a tubeslidable vertically on saidstaff, means forpositioning the tube afterinsertion inthe tank at a zero line in the tank, and a valve forcontrolling the iiow dome of the tank, a transparent tube slidablysupported thereon, with means for positioning the tube at a Zero lineafter insertion in the tank, and a valve for controlling the flow ofliquid into the tube, to indicate either the domage or ullage of thetank.

6. A measuring instrument for tank cars, comprising a stad for insertionthrough the dome of the tank, a bracket sliding thereon and supporting aglass tube, meansfor moving the bracket to position the tube at a Zeroline after insertion in the tank,and a valve for controlling the flow ofliquid into the tube,to indicate either the domage or ullage of thetank.

7. A measuring instrument for tank'cars,

i comprising a sta for insertion through the Vdome of the tank, a domageand ullage indi-- eating device slidable thereon, the said devicecomprising a tube and a scale associated therewith, means forpositioning the tube with the scale atits zero line after insertion inthe tank, and a valve for controlling the How of liquid into the tube.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our naines at Milwaukee, this 26thday of April,

JOHN M. MAYHALL. HOWARD C. MORRISON.

CID

